Matthew Gross has been in the jewelry industry for the past 32 years. He first began his training as an apprentice at the age of 15 working as a polisher in a small independent retail jewelry store in the southeastern Michigan area. For the next three years he worked for various retail and manufacturing jewelers learning the trade. At the age of 18 he opened his first retail establishment renting space in a hair salon three days a week, designing and repair jewelry for the patrons.
Upon graduating from high school he furthered his education by attending the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica California in 1992. There he earned the distinguished degree of Graduate Gemologist.
After graduating from the GIA program he attended the course studies with the International Society of Appraisers where he studied appraisal writing, law, and ethics. After the appraisal training Matthew landed a position in Stamford Connecticut at a high-end retail jewelry store as the assistant appraiser and assistant designer. Within four months Matthew was promoted to chief appraiser and head designer.
After building his experience portfolio in Connecticut he moved back to Michigan and took a position with a local high end jewelry store where he was in charge of the appraisal, and design departments overseeing three other appraisers, and a staff of 12 jewelers. After his first son was born he decided it was time to break off on his own. In 1995 Matthew opened MHG jewelry studio located in Berkley Michigan. There he designs, repairs, and appraises jewelry. All of the work is done in his studio by himself and his assistant.
Matthew enjoys taking on apprentices and doing lectures for students. His quote is “you cannot take your skills with you when you die unless you pass them onto someone else”.
